Nasir’s Family Freed from Generations of Slavery
Max GibsonFreedom Takes Action: How a Community Came Together to Break Modern Slavery’s Chains
In a world where slavery seems like a relic of the past, the Masih family’s story reminds us it’s still a devastating reality. But today, their story has a new chapter – one of freedom, hope, and the power of collective action.
For 47 years, Nasir Masih knew nothing but the suffocating grip of Pakistan’s brick kiln slavery. After losing his leg in a workplace accident, instead of receiving help, his family sank deeper into debt. But last week, everything changed when a group of determined supporters raised $2,230 to break their chains.
The rescue mission began at dawn. Armed with legal documents and the exact debt amount of $1,480, our team entered the brick kiln where generations of the Masih family had toiled. The moment we presented Nasir with his first wheelchair, tears welled in his eyes – it was his first taste of mobility and dignity in years.
“The children kept asking if this was real,” recalls one team member, describing the family’s departure from the kiln. “They couldn’t believe they wouldn’t have to make bricks anymore.”
But freedom is more than just leaving – it’s about building a new life. Within days, the family moved into their temporary housing, received three months’ worth of food supplies, and began setting up their own vegetable stand. Perhaps the most powerful moment came when Nasir’s sons stepped into a classroom for the first time in their lives, trading their brick-making tools for schoolbooks.
The $2,230 that changed their lives was broken down strategically:
• $1,480 cleared their multi-generational debt
• $400 established their new vegetable business
• $250 secured housing and essential supplies
• $100 provided Nasir with a wheelchair and medical support
This rescue isn’t just about one family – it’s a beacon of hope for countless others trapped in Pakistan’s brick kilns. Among them are Shakeel, who lost his hand in an accident, and sisters Bhusra and Shakeela, battling disability and cancer while making bricks.
The Masih family’s journey from bondage to freedom proves that while freedom can’t be given, it can be fought for and won through collective action. Their vegetable stand now stands as a symbol of independence, their children’s education a promise of a different future, and their story a testament to the power of community action against modern slavery.
As Nasir arranges produce at his new stand, he shares his first business earnings with a bright smile. “For the first time,” he says, “we are working for ourselves, not for someone else’s profit.”
The breaking of these chains reminds us that modern slavery isn’t insurmountable. Sometimes, it takes just $2,230 and a community’s determination to help a family taste freedom for the first time in generations.
But the work isn’t done. More families await their chance at freedom. More children dream of trading brick kilns for classrooms. More parents hope for the dignity of independent work. Their freedom, too, awaits action.
Our Ongoing Mission
While we focus on freeing Nasir's family, the monsoon crisis in Pakistan's brick kilns has left many enslaved families without even the meager income they need for food. Among those waiting for freedom: Shakeel, who lost his hand in an accident; sisters Bhusra and Shakeela, battling disability and cancer; and families forced to choose between food and medicine.
Each freed family gives us hope, but dozens more reach out daily. Your support today helps break the chains of slavery, one family at a time.
With Heartfelt Gratitude to Our Donors
Your generosity has given the gift of freedom to the Masih family. Your compassion has forever changed their lives.
Special Thanks To (in no particular order):
Marcin Paszkiewicz
Markus Räsänen
Robert Marr
Don O
Angela Graham
Jean Leduc
Markus Räsänen
Robert Marr
Don O
Angela Graham
Jean Leduc
And Our Anonymous Heroes
With deep appreciation to our six anonymous donors whose quiet generosity speaks volumes.
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” – Proverbs 19:17
